Umbrella and parasol



July 1, 1930. M. ALLAND UMBRELLA AND PARASOL Filed June 18, 1929Patented July 1, 1930.

PATENT OFFICE MAURICE ALLAND, or ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY UMBRELLA ANDrnaason Application filed .Tune 18,

The object has been to provide improvements in umbrellas and parasolsbroadly, but more specifically in the handle structure, and its relationto theribs which sup- I port the cover. i

Numerous attempts have been made to provide in an umbrella or parasol asuitable means'for holding the free end portions of the ribs in closeproximity to the handle when the device is in closed position,vbut thefact that few if any of those heretofore devised have come into use toanyv great extent or for any extended length of time indicates that theyhave not proved to be an entire success. 7 Y I Furthermore, inconformity with various developments in feminine styles, there hasdeveloped a need for a device for not only retaining the free ends ofthe ribs in closed position, but one which is also'operabl'e to maintainin'such ends a uniformly partially extended position, sothat when theumbrella or parasol is on display, or when it is closed and is beingused during a stroll, the appearance of the same is greatly enhancedover that which presents when either closed but loosely, or when the ribends are bound tightly against'the staff.

An object of the invention therefore has 3 been to provide aconstruction in which these highly desirable features are embodied, andat the same time one which is inexpensive to manufacture, is not readilyliable to become disarranged or out of order, and 3 which is mostefficient in the performance of its function.

With these and other objects in mind, the present invention comprisesfurther details of construction and operation which are fully broughtout'in the following description when read in conjunction with them:-companying drawingsin which Fig. l is a side elevation of a parasol 1nWlllCll one form of the invention is embodied, the same 4 being shownpartly in section; Fig. 21s an enlarged section of thesectioned portionof Fig. 1 butin a different pos1t1on; and F g. 3 is a sectional viewsimilar to Fig, 2, but illustrating a modified form of the 1nvent1on.

. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an umbrella or 1929. Serial No. 371,759.

parasol is shown as comprising a staff 1, carrying a ferrule 2, fromwhich protrudes a, threaded stud 3. To this stud is secured in threadedengagement a staff extension ele ment 4E, provided upon its outersurface with suitable relatively coarse and preferably square threads,beyond which the free end portion of said element is reduced andthreaded at 5 to receive and operatively connect with said staff ahandle 6 of any suitable size, shape and material.

Rotatably mounted upon the threaded element 4 is a transverselyextending partition 7, having a threaded aperture 8, through which saidelement extends, said partition extending transversely of and closingone end ofa cylindrical member 9, which spirally receives in telescopicassociation the adjacent end portion of the handle 6. Upon the oppositeside of said partition to said member, said partition is preferablyintegrally connected with a radially outwardly flaring disc or skirt 10,which terminates at its periphery in a preferably cylindrical flange 11I i I Said disc or skirt 10 is providedinwardly with a substantiallyunbroken or regular conical surface 12, which radially outwardly isprovided with a circumferentially extending groove 1a, preferablyadjacent to the flange '11.

I In the operation of this device, the partitioned element 9 is adjustedupon the thread. ed staff extension 4 so that the free end portions 15of the usual ribs 16 enter and are retained against radial dislodgmentwithin the groove 14, the fabric of the umbrella or parasol cover 17being free to hang'loosely outwardly in uniform relation about the staff1, substantially as shown in Fig. 1.

If a different or more closed arrangement of the ribs and cover isdesired, the element 9 is rotated upon the staff extensiondisinfficientlyto release the rib ends 15 from withi in the groove 14,so that said ribs may be contraoted'into engagement with-the conicalsurface 12 of 'the disc or skirt 10. Immediately thereafter the element9 may be rotated in the reverse direction, thereby forcing said ribs tobe contracted radially inwardly towards and closely about the staff 1,until the ends 15 are received within and retained by the radially outerlimits of the concaved recess 13. It will also be noted that in thisform of the device, the element 9 when longitudinally withdrawn uponsaid staff extension slides over the adjacent end of the handle 6, andwhen it slides in the opposite direction upon said extension is arrestedin movement before its leaves the proximity of said handle, so thatthere is at no time a gap between said element and said handle, as shownin Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 3, the modified embodiment is shown as comprising anumbrella or parasol represented by a staff 20, surrounded by ribs 21, towhich is secured the usual fabric 22, said ribs having the well-knowntype of enlarged terminal portions 23. Into 2 the free end portion ofsaid stafi 20 is permanently secured in any; suitable manner the reducedend portion 2 of an extension member 25, the outer surface of which isprovided with relatively coarse square threads, beyond which said memberis reduced at 26 and permanently secured in any suitable manner into ahandle 27, which may be of any size, shape, or material.

Rotatably mounted upon the threaded surface of the extension member 25is the transversely extending partition 28 of a cylindrical member 29,which in one extreme position moves telescopically over the adjacentportion of the handle 27, while'in its other position its longitudinalmovement is limited when it forms a substantial continuation of thesurface of said handle, but without leavf ing an appreciable gap betweenthem. From the opposite side of the partition 28, the member 29 mergesinto a preferably cylindrical flange 30, which, as shown in Fig. 3,

operates to receive, surround and secure the terminii 23 of the ribs 21,to prevent said ribs from moving radially outwardly and the umbrellaopening when such is not desired. The outer surfaces of both of thecylindrical members 9 and 29, hereinbefore described, may be providedwith finger'engaging irregularities 31' of any suitable spacing, shapeand arrangement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is r 1. An umbrella including astaff having ribs and handle attached, in combination with an elementslidable upon said staff with respect to said ribs, and operative toends of the ribs either in a contracted or in a partially extendedrelation.

3. An umbrella including a staff having ribs and handle attached, incombination with an element slidable upon said staff and overhangingsaid handle, said element being provided with a radially inwardlypositioned recess and with a radially outwardly positioned peripheralgroove, either .said recess or said groove being adapted to receive andretain the ends of the ribs in fully 1closed or partially open position,selective- 4. An umbrella including a staff having ribs and handleattached, in combination with an element slidable upon said staff andoverhanging said handle, saidelement being provided with a radiallyinwardly positioned recess and with a radially outwardly positionedperipheral groove connected by a substantially vconical surface, saidgroove being adapted to receiveand retain the ends of said ribs inpartially open-position, and when released from said groove said ribs inengagement with said surface being forced radially inwardly towards saidrecess, as said element is moved longitudinally toward said rib endsupon said staff.

5. An umbrella including a staff having ribs and handle attached, incombination with a disc having a conical surface and movablelongitudinally upon said staff, said surface being engageable with the'rib ends and operative to propel them radially inwardly towards closedposition.

v6. An umbrella including a staff having ribs and handle attached, incombination with a disc having a conical surface and movablelongitudinally upon said staff, said surface upon engaging the rib endsoperatmg to propel them radially inwardly towards closedposition, andsaid surface merging radially outwardly into a periph eral grooveadapted to receive and operative to then retain said rib ends inpartially open posltion,

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

' MAURICE ALLAND.

retain the ends of said ribs either in a con- -tracted orin a partiallyextended relation.

2. An umbrella including a staff having ribs and handle attached, incombination with an element slidable upon said staff and overhangingsaid handle, said element being provided with means operative to retainthe

